“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel” (Joshua 1:2).
The death of Moses could have stopped the Israelites in their tracks, but it didn’t. God called Joshua to lead His people forward. The same is true today: you can’t stay where you are and go with God. Yet, there are times when it’s difficult to keep going. Maybe it’s the loss of someone close to you or fear of the unknown. Maybe God is silent. When your spiritual life seems stuck, you have to ask yourself, “Why?” So, let’s look at how God called Joshua—and us—to keep moving forward.
First, don’t dwell on the past. The previous devotion talked about the importance of remembering God’s past faithfulness. But the purpose of these glances backward is to propel us forward, not chain us to the past. For Israel, moving forward had nothing to do with forgetting Moses and everything to do with obeying God. Whether your past was full of laughter or sorrow, you can’t live there. God’s work is always ahead of you, not behind you.
Next, step into God’s promises. God told Joshua, “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses” (Joshua 1:3). The Israelites couldn’t receive the promise by standing still—they had to move. The same is true for us. God directs our steps when we walk in faith: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23).
Finally, stay within God’s boundaries. To claim the land, Joshua had to walk within the boundaries God had set (Joshua 1:4). Remember—boundaries are blessings. God’s Word gives us the clear lines we need to follow so we can walk in His will. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Living within God’s boundaries doesn’t restrict us—it frees us to live confidently in His promises.
Where is God calling you to move forward today? Maybe the next step seems uncertain or uncomfortable. But just because it’s unknown to you doesn’t mean it’s unknown to God. Maybe you’re grieving. Like Joshua, you can honor the past by building on what God has already done. Or maybe God is calling you to take a bold step into something new. Trust Him. Follow Him. Keep moving forward—because that’s where He’s leading.
